Water sprinkler for dogs

ABSTRACT

A water sprinkler specifically designed for exercising and entertaining dogs that is composed of a highly-durable, non-toxic, flexible, plastic, or like material having perforations for water to spray. Dogs entertain themselves in water sprinklers, however, water sprinklers are often not durable and do not withstand dogs biting them. Dogs can also harm themselves by biting sharp material used to manufacture most standard water sprinklers. This invention is a durable rubber or similar material bone water sprinkler that connects to a standard garden water hose. Dogs can pick it up in their mouths to move it around, nip at the spraying water, and chew on the water sprinkler safely. The body of the sprinkler is shaped in a manner that encourages play even without water spraying from the perforations. The water sprinkler for dogs addresses the chewing and biting issue characteristic of dogs when playing with water sprinklers.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

A provisional patent was filed on Nov. 1, 2007 for this invention(application No. 61/001,289).

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTINGCOMPACT DISC APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention is a pet exercising and entertainment water sprinklerdevice. Dogs play and entertain themselves in water sprinklers, however,water sprinklers are often not durable enough for dogs and do notwithstand dogs biting them.

In reviewing prior art, we did not find any water sprinklers that weredesigned for dogs. Dogs often bite at water sprinklers, often destroyingthe sprinkler and sometimes this can cause injuries to dogs due to thetype of material water sprinklers are made of. Many water sprinklershave hard plastic parts or aluminum parts (i.e. U.S. Pat. Nos.7,090,146, D390,312, 4,597,528). These materials easily crack, bend, orare destroyed when dogs try to bite at them, becoming a hazard for dogs.Water sprinklers designed for recreational use (i.e. U.S. Pat. Nos.3,873,026, 6,050,501) are also not designed for dogs nipping at them. Inreviewing toys for dogs, there are many plastic bone designs (i.e.United States Patent numbers 20060102099, 20060225667, U.S. Pat. No.5,263,436) for dogs to play with and chew. Some inventions provide dogswith fresh water in a bowl via a garden hose and/or sprinkler system(United States Patent 20060249224). However, durable water sprinklersdesigned specifically for dogs that can be attached to a garden hose areunavailable on the market.

The water sprinkler device for dogs allows a dog to play in the sprayingwater which provides exercise and a way to cool down on hot days. Therubber material of the device is designed to withstand biting andchewing. This device is designed for a dog to be entertained, haveexercise, and chew or bite the device safely.

This device is new because it is a water sprinkler especially designedfor dogs. Specifically it is a water sprinkler shaped as a bone which iscomposed of a durable, non-toxic, resilient rubber material thatconnects to a standard garden hose. Dogs can run in the spraying waterand chase the water. They can also nip at the water and chew on thewater sprinkler without injuring themselves or the device due to theresilient material the device is made of. The invention is a toy thatdogs can pick up in their mouths and move around. The water sprinklerfor dogs safely addresses the chewing and biting issue characteristic ofdogs when playing with sprinklers.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention is an animal specific exercising and entertainment watersprinkler device. The objective of this invention is to provideentertainment, safety and exercise for dogs. Dogs entertain themselvesin water sprinklers, however, water sprinklers are often not durableenough for dogs and do not withstand dogs biting them. In addition, dogscan harm themselves by biting the sharp material used to manufacturemost standard water sprinklers.

Another objective of this invention is to provide a dog toy that is safefor dogs by using material that dogs can bite safely. The sprinklerdevice will be manufactured out of hard rubber, plastic, or any othersuitable satisfactory material providing an aesthetically pleasing andrefined appearance and being safe, resilient, and non-toxic to dogs.

The water sprinkler is shaped in the form of a bone to further attractthe dog to the toy. The sprinkler connects to a water source to spraywater and allowing dogs to pick it up in their mouths and move itaround. Dogs can nip at the spraying water and chew on the watersprinkler without injuring themselves or the device. The water sprinklerfor dogs addresses the chewing and biting issue characteristic of dogswhen playing with sprinklers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF THE DRAWING: LIST OF FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a top view of the water sprinkler with perforations.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the device.

FIG. 3 is an additional external view showing the top and side view ofthe apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the device taken along the length ofthe water sprinkler showing the top piece of the device, the hoseconnector threads, and the perforations.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the device take along the length ofthe water sprinkler showing the bottom piece of the device and the hoseconnector threads.

FIG. 6 shows a view of where a standard garden hose can be attached tothe apparatus.

FIG. 7 shows a close up view of the protective rubber ring surroundingthe hose connection on the water sprinkler.

(Note FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 6 show horizontal and vertical lines on thedevice. These lines are an artifact of the Computerized-aided design(CAD) software and are not part of the design.)

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a water sprinkler toy for entertaining and exercisingdogs. This invention attaches to a standard garden water hose. The watersprinkler for dogs is made of durable, non-toxic, resilient rubber orsimilar material in the shape of a bone with small perforations wherewater sprays out. One end of the apparatus is open and water flowsthrough a garden hose and into the compartment where the water is thendischarged through apertures on the top of the device.

The features of the present invention will be better understood withreference to the detailed description of each drawing discussed below.

FIG. 1 is a top view of the water sprinkler for dogs. When a garden hoseis attached to the device at the garden hose connection (10) and thewater is turned on, water sprays out of the perforations (12), the roundcircles on the top of the device. FIG. 1 shows fifteen perforations butany number could be used. FIGS. 2 and 3 provide additional views of thedevice including the sides and ends of the apparatus. FIG. 4 is across-sectional view of the device taken along the length of the watersprinkler. The internal cavity illustrates where the water will enter(10) and then be discharged through the perforations (12). The gardenhose connector (10) is illustrated on one end of the device. The border(14) with protrusions (16) provides a surface to connect the top of theapparatus with the bottom part of the apparatus seen in FIG. 5. The toppart of the device (FIG. 4) and the bottom part of the device (FIG. 5)will be bonded together along the borders (14). A side view of thedevice as seen in FIG. 6 illustrates the protective ring (18)structurally designed to cover the water hose connection (10) to protectit from dog's teeth and dog bites. FIG. 7 provides a closer view of theprotective ring (18) design and structure. This design helps to coverthe hose connectors (10) protecting the connection and decreasing adog's chance of injury.

The water sprinkler bone was designed using the electronicComputer-aided Design (CAD) software. This software will be used tocreate two metal molds of the bone shaped sprinkler, a top and bottommold. The selected material will be poured into the molds and theresulting pieces will be removed and assembled together manually bybonding the top and bottom pieces.

It is to be understand the form of this invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and thatthis invention is not to be limited to the exact arrangement of partsmay be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention,the scope of the novel concepts thereof, or the scope of the subjoinedclaims.

1: This invention is a water sprinkler designed specifically for dogsfor exercise and entertainment, as shown and described. It should beunderstood, however, the invention is not limited to the specificfeatures shown, because the means and construction shown comprise onlythe preferred embodiments for putting the invention into effect. Theinvention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications toaccommodate dogs of various breeds and sizes.
 2. A water sprinklerdevice for dogs to utilize as an entertaining and fun toy whichcomprises a three dimensional body formed of substantially solid,resilient material that is designed specifically for dogs. The bodyshaped to mimic a dog bone has an open end with a standard garden hoseconnection and rows of perforations to spray water. The body has ahollow chamber composed of protruding structures which assist indischarging the water from the hollow compartment.